How Does a House Concert Work?

I contact AMAZING artists and ask them to come play in the most intimate of settings…a house. You purchase a "ticket" (donation to the artist, we just call it a "ticket" because that's what people are used to hearing), bring a snack to share and your favorite beverage, sit back and enjoy the music! There is nothing quite like a house concert.  Where else can you go where you’re sitting no more than mere feet from a national/international recording artist?  You can talk to them, make requests, take pictures, ask them about their music, get CDs and have them personally autographed.  House concerts are an inexpensive way to discover new artists and make friends with like-minded people.  Doesn’t get much better than that!
 

Why the Name "Borrowed House Concerts?"

Well, my place is very small and pretty acoustically challenged, so I “borrow” houses to host the shows in.  I have some incredible friends who allow me to borrow their homes for our magical shows.  Borrowed House Concerts is NOT a business, it's just a bunch of people who get together and enjoy music in someone's living room. I gave it a name because it's just much cooler to say, "Borrowed House Concerts" or "BHC" instead of "we're a bunch of people who get together to enjoy music someone's living room."  If you're interested in letting me borrow your house for some magical music, send me an email at borrowedhouseconcerts@comcast.net. 
 

How Do I Get to See a Show?

BUY A "TICKET!"  Bring your favorite beverage (please be responsible, we want you to come back) and a snack to share, sit back, relax and enjoy!  ALL donations collected goes to the artist!  Every penny!  

You can reserve a seat by clicking on an event and following the instructions.  My eldest son, Aaron, set me up with this sweet website.  It keeps a list for me and even automagically sends you out a reminder right before the show!  Once you RSVP for a show you'll get a confirmation email with instructions where to send your donation.  We'll hold your seat for one week pending your donation.  If you don't get it in, we'll have to make your seat available again.  Seating is limited for each show, so we need to know what's actually available. 

By the way......We call it a "ticket" because it's a word everyone understands when it comes to a concert.  You're actually making a "suggested donation" to the artist.  Yeah, we sometimes make up cute little souvenir "tickets" but that's just for the fun and a little memento. 

Show Suggestion:  Bring $5s and $10s if you’re even thinking you might like to purchase merchandise from an artist.  This is a great plan no matter what venue you may be at. Not only does it help the "Merch Girl" but it makes your purchase quicker too!  Them $20s and $50s eat up a change bank in a fast hurry!
(Please note:  We must charge a $25.00 fee for any returned checks, sorry.  It costs me, I gotta charge you.)

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Can I BYOB?

Short answer Yes.  Longer answer is you are welcome to bring your own beverage, including soft drinks.  We will always have bottled water available.  However, we want to see you at another show, so please enjoy your adult beverages responsibly.  And if you do decide to enjoy one and you get a little out of control or in trouble with the law, you agree to hold me, Borrowed House Concerts, and any hosting homeowner harmless.  BYOB is an option, not a requirement.

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I Paid My Donation, Now I Can't Go! *sad face*         Can I Get a Refund?

No, sorry, paid reservations are final.  This is pretty standard operating procedure for any concert "venue." Now I know we’re not Tupelo Music Hall, Meadowbrook, or Xfinity Center, I'm not even really a "venue" but the amazing musicians who come, some from very long distances, deserve to be paid.  We save seat for you, the artist shows up, they should be paid.  I base the suggested donation prices on what my commitment to the artist is.  Most artists are playing for whatever I can collect.  If you reserve a seat and cancel at the last minute expecting a refund, that's a seat I have little chance of filling before the show. and then the artist loses out. I try to keep the shows affordable (usually between $25-$35). I only want to have to "sell" the seats once, not over and over again.  It’s very important to me to pay the artist!  BUT, if/when a show sells out, I will start a waiting list in case someone finds they need to re-sell their ticket.  If in the unfortunate event you find you can’t make a show you are more than welcome to re-sell your ticket on your own, but we won’t be able to post it to this Website or to our Facebook group until a show is completely sold out.  Of course, if BHC has to cancel a show for any reason you will receive a full refund!

 

What Are the Acceptable Forms of Payment?

Cash or check please.  I know all about the cash apps, and I thought about them.  I was hoping to tie it all to my website to make it super convenient.  But I'm not a business, and I'm not going to open a business account to process cash app payments.  I keep all the donations separate from my personal account because it all goes to the artists.  Many of the cash apps have charged me a fee and there are threatening legislation to start 1099ing people for cash app activity over $600/annually.  

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How Will I Know What House is Being Borrowed?

The show description on the website will say where the show is by its "venue" name and town. So, IYKYK. You'll get an immediate confirmation email when you reserve a seat, and you'll also get an automagic email a few days before the show with the exact address.  I wait until closer to the show to send it out so it's close to the top of your emails and you'll hopefully be able to find it easily.

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The Show I'm Going to is an Outdoor Show.  What Happens if it Rains? The "Sunshine List!"

First off...IT WOULDN'T DARE!   But...When there is an outdoor show and it rains, the show WILL go on!  The first 30 PAID donations will be seated inside. #31+ (also known as "Sunshine Tickets") will get a full refund.  I keep track of the Sunshine Ticket list in order of purchase.  If any of the first 30 need to re-sell their tickets they will be offered, in order of reservation, to those on the Sunshine Ticket List.   The no refund policy applies to those on the Sunshine List if the concert is held outdoors.  I don’t schedule shows in the winter months. Are you kidding?  I stress enough over filling the seats, let alone worrying about getting snowed out!
 

Who Has Played at Borrowed House Concerts?

Here's the GROWING list of amazing artists who have played the BHC Stage

- Seth Glier w/Ryan Hommel (Middleton, NH)

                not an official BHC show, but it was my very first house concert and a ton of fun!
- Chelsea Berry
- Jenn Grinels
- Seth Glier w/Joe Nerney
- Chad Perrone
- Antje Duvekot
- Flynn
- Joel Cage
- Lisa Mills
​- Charles Berthoud
- Grant Stinnett
- The DuPont Brother
- Claude Bourbon
- Charlie Farren
- Bruce Marshall
- Matt Cusson
- Megan Burtt
- Lorna Simes
- Bob Halprin

- Sarah Potenza

- The Rough and Tumble

- Brian Dunne

- Jim Trick

- Chris O'Brien

- Jon Butcher

- Britt Connors

- Sam Robbins

- James Montgomery

- Shanna in a Dress

- Patrick Sampson

- Meaghan Farrell

- Jon Pousette-Dart Duo w/Jim Chapdelaine

- Dave Gunning & JP Cormier

- Grace Morrison

- Ari Hest

- RB Stone

​I'm talking to new and exciting artists each and every day!

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See YOU soon at a Borrowed House Concert!